Children have a fundamental right to be protected from harm and as a registered childcare provider it is our duty to ensure the welfare and well being of all children within the setting is safeguarded.

Safeguarding Children: The Early Years Foundation Stage states that:

“3.4. Providers must be alert to any issues for concern in the child’s life at home or elsewhere. Providers must have and implement a policy, and procedures, to safeguard children. These should be in line with the guidance and procedures of the relevant Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). The safeguarding policy and procedures must include an explanation of the action to be taken in the event of an allegation being made against a member of staff, and cover the use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting”

Safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare – Policy Statement

The welfare requirements within the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2014) require providers to take the necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their care. In particular, they are required to implement an effective safeguarding children policy.

We ensure that anyone working with us understands the safeguarding policy and procedure.

We follow the guidelines set out in the booklet ‘Working together to Safeguard children’ (A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children March 2013)

If we have reason to believe that a child is subject to either physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect, we are obligated to report any suspicions regarding abuse to the Brent Family Front Door immediately and/or if a child is in immediate danger, the police.

Brent family front door: 0208 937 4300

Or in an emergency call 999

The Children Act 1989 places a duty on Local Authorities to investigate such matters in accordance with Local Child Protection Procedures. As a childcare provider we will follow the referral procedure as set out in the local Child Protection guidelines approved by the Brent Local Safeguarding Board (LSCB).

We will also at all times refer to the booklet Safeguarding Children in Early Years Settings (2014 edition) as well as the guidance documents set out below.

Guidance

The Framework for the Assessment of children in Need and Their Families (2000)

Working Together to Safeguard Children (revised 2013)

What to do if you are worried a child is being abused (March 2015)

Inspecting Safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings (Ofsted August 2015)

The Common Assessment Framework (2005)

The Prevent Duty Dfe (June 2015)

Safer Recruitment in Education (2013)

Safeguarding Procedure

Our setting will work with children, parents and the community to ensure the safety of children and to give them the very best start in life. We will endeavour to prevent abuse by means of good practice in the following ways:

Our setting has a designated senior member of staff who takes lead responsibility for the management of Child Protection within the setting. This is the manager and in addition we have a designated deputy.

The lead practitioner provides support, advice and guidance to any other staff on an ongoing basis, and on any specific safeguarding issues as required.

We ensure that all staff attend regular training on Safeguarding Children and that the designated person responsible for the management of safeguarding children updates their training.

We ensure that we take account of any advice from the Brent LSCB or local authority on appropriate training courses.

We ensure that all staff are briefed and equipped with the knowledge of the child protection procedure within the setting through induction and in house training as well as through regular staff meetings.

The setting ensures that all staff are DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked and any member of staff awaiting clearance is supervised and does not undertake duties such as nappy changing or tending to a child who has wet or soiled themselves.

The setting ensures that all staff recruited after January 2015 are registered with the DBS update service.

The setting ensures that all visitors sign in at main entrance and produce an ID.

The setting has an intercom system and all parents/ visitors are greeted by a member of staff before entering the premises

Upon release of children at the end of the session the child is prepared and ready for parent to collect them. When parent/carer arrives the child is called by the staffs and handed to the parent

Volunteers and students are supervised at all times

The layout of the rooms permits constant supervision of the children

Children will be encouraged to develop a sense of autonomy and independence through adult support. For example, children are supported to make choices, find names for their own feelings and acceptable ways of expressing them. This will enable children to have the self confidence and vocabulary to keep themselves safe. Further guidance can be found in the Safeguarding children in early years’ settings in Brent 2014 document.

Responding to suspicions of abuse

Sexual abuse:

If any member of staff witness’s occasions where a child may indicate sexual activity, through words, play drawing, or inappropriate knowledge of adult sexual behaviour the child would be monitored through careful recording of any of these incidents. The concern would immediately be shared with the designated member of staff and reported to Brent Family Front Door.

Physical Abuse;

If we suspect physical abuse of a child this will be recorded and discussed with the lead practitioner for safeguarding. Any sign of a mark or injury to a child will be discussed with the parent and recorded upon arrival at the setting. Should there be any queries or concerns regarding the injury the setting will contact Brent Family Front Door.

Emotional Abuse:

If we suspect emotional maltreatment of a child this will be recorded and discussed with the lead practitioner for safeguarding and (provided the child would not be placed at risk) with the parent. Should there be any queries or concerns we will contact Brent Family Front Door.

Neglect:

If the setting has reason to suspect, there has been persistent neglect of a child and discussed with the lead practitioner for safeguarding and a written record will be kept. Concerns will be shared with the parent/carer (provided the child would not be placed at risk). Should there be queries or concerns we will notify Brent Family Front Door.

All the concerns mentioned above will be recorded and dealt with in the following way:

Date, time ,place and circumstances

Who else was present, what we observed, what we said or did or what concerns were reported to us

Notes will be sign and dated

Anything discussed with Parent/carer will be recorded and parent/carer would be asked to sign the recorded discussion.

All concerns are reported to the lead practitioner/designated person.

All concerns will be reported directly to the Brent Family Front Door

If a child in our care makes a direct disclosure to a member of staff then we would approach the concern in the following way:

Listen to the child, be attentive and stay calm

Make no promises that what has been said by the child can be kept a secret

Be reassuring and non-judgemental

Keep an open mind

Be careful not to question the child – just listen

Explain what we are going to do next

Explain that we will need to write down what has been said

Staffing and volunteering

Our designated person (a member of staff) who co-ordinates safeguarding children issues.

We provide adequate and appropriate staffing resources to meet the needs of children.

Applicants for posts within the setting are clearly informed that the positions are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Candidates are informed of the need to carry out ‘enhanced disclosure’ checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service before posts can be confirmed.

Staff recruited after January 1st 2015 are required to register with the DBS update service within 19 days of receiving their certificate.

Where applications are rejected because of information that has been disclosed, applicants have the right to know and to challenge incorrect information.

We abide by Ofsted requirements in respect of references and DBS checks for staff and volunteers, to ensure that no disqualified person or unsuitable person works at the setting or has access to the children.

DBS checks will not generally show offences committed by individuals whilst living abroad (except in the case of service personnel and their families). Therefore, in addition to an enhanced DBS checks, additional checks such as certificates of good conduct from relevant embassies or police forces are necessary where a member of staff has lived abroad in the previous 5 years.

Where an applicant is from or has lived in a country where DBS checks cannot be made for child protection purposes, or is a refugee with leave to remain in the UK, and has no means of obtaining relevant information, we will take extra care in taking up references and carrying out other background checks. For example, additional references should be sought, and references followed up by phone as well as letter.

Volunteers do not work unsupervised. Volunteers and students who work frequently (once a week or more often), or on 4 or more days in a 30-day period will be required to obtain a DBS check.

We record information about staff qualifications and the identity checks and vetting processes that have been completed, this includes:

Job application and / or CV

A record that identity checks were completed, the date and by whom.

Criminal records disclosure number, the date the disclosure was obtained and the details of who obtained it.

Name, address, and telephone number of two referees. Referees must include the candidate’s last employer. Other referees must have known candidates for longer than 12 months and are not relatives; the date that the referees where contacted and by whom.

We will refer to the Disclosure and Barring Service and Ofsted any concerns we have about an employee who we have removed from regulated activity or dismissed (or would have been, had the person not left the setting first) because they have harmed a child or put a child at risk of harm.

All staff must disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings that may affect their suitability to work with children (whether received before or during their employment at the setting)

All staff must disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings of anyone living in the same household that may affect their suitability to work with children.

We have procedures for recording the details of visitors to the setting.

We take security steps to ensure that we have control over who comes into the setting so that no unauthorised person has unsupervised access to the children

Safer recruitment

To safeguard the children in our care we take all the necessary steps in vetting and referencing all employees.

Exclude known abusers

It will be made clear to applicants for posts within the nursery that the position is exempt from the provisions of the rehabilitation of offender’s act 1974.

All applicants for work within the nursery, whether voluntary or unpaid will be interviewed before an appointment is made and will be asked to provide at least one reference. All such references will be followed up. In the case of applicants with unexplained gaps in their unemployment history, or who have moved rapidly from one job to another, explanations will be sought.

All appointments, both paid and voluntary will be subject to a probationary period and will not be confirmed unless the nursery is satisfied with the background checks and that the applicant can be safely entrusted with the children.

The setting takes any allegation of abuse against a member of staff very seriously. Allegations may be of physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect.

We recognise that an allegation can come from a number of sources:

A child

Parents, either directly or through Ofsted or any other agencies (Brent Local Safeguarding Children Board).

Current or former staff (whether paid or voluntary) in the setting.

Staff and parents are informed that any concerns or allegations against a member of staff are to be reported to the designated person who will record concerns. If the allegation or concern is against the designated person then concerns should be reported to the deputy designated person.

The manager will contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for support and advice in carrying out the procedure in line with the Brent Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.

The manager will contact Ofsted as soon as reasonably practicable, but at the latest within 14 days of becoming aware of the allegation.

The person against whom the allegation is made will be informed of the allegation and will be told for their best interest that they will be removed (without prejudice) from working directly with children or asked to take time off leave whilst a full investigation takes place.

The member of staff accused will also be told that we have a duty to inform Ofsted as well as the Brent Family Front Door. In addition they will be informed that investigations will be in line with the Brent Local Safeguarding Children’s Board procedures.

Working with Local agencies

We are committed to liaising closely with the Early Years team, Brent Local Safeguarding Children Board and Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for up to date child protection training, support and advice.

We notify the registration authority (Ofsted) of any incident or accident and any changes in our arrangements which may affect the wellbeing of children.

We work within the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.

We maintain and display a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of appropriate contacts, to ensure that it is easy, in any emergency, for the setting and other agencies to work well together.

Details of the local National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) contacts are also kept.

If a referral is to be made to the Brent Family Front Door, we act within the Safeguarding children in early years settings in Brent 2014 document in deciding whether we must inform the child’s parents at the same time.

Brent LSCB Guidance on allegations against a member of staff or volunteers

Allegations made against staff or volunteers

The vast majority of adults who work with children (paid or unpaid) act professionally and aim to provide a safe and supportive environment which secures the well-being of children and young people in their care. However, it is recognised that adults can abuse their position of trust and harm children but also that misunderstandings can occur. It is therefore essential that all possible steps are taken to ensure that staff working with children have clear and safe boundaries and that processes are in place to safeguard children and young people.

An allegation of abuse can be made against any staff member at any time and it can be very challenging to believe that a trusted member of the team cold cause harm to a child.

It is for this purpose that the process below has been established and must be followed when there is an allegation or concern raised about any person who works with children, in connection with his/her employment or voluntary activity.

An allegation against a member of staff may arise from a number of sources –

A report from a child victim

A concern raised by another child/adult in the organisation

A concern raised by a parent or carer.

Initial action by person receiving or identifying an allegation or concern –

The person to whom the allegation or concern is first reported should treat the matter seriously and keep an open mind.

S/HE SHOULD –

Instigate medical care where appropriate

Information should only be shared on ‘need to know’ basis

Written record of information preferably word to word

Report matter to Senior Manager or Deputy

S/HE SHOULD NOT –

Ask leading questions even if wanting clarification

Make assumptions

Promise complete confidentiality

Procedure to be followed by the Senior Manager –

If an allegation is made against a member of staff, the designated safeguarding officer Manisha must be informed and the Brent LADO must be contacted immediately

Do NOT investigate the matter yourself BUT DO obtain written details of the allegation and record all information, including dates, locations and witnesses, also record discussion about the child and member of staff and about any decisions made.

Inform the parent or carer and seek advice of LADO on management of the allegation

Discuss with LADO on when to tell the accused member of staff. Do not share information if it will undermine any investigation.

If an allegation requires immediate attention outside of normal office hours, contact the social care emergency duty team or CAIT via the local police. Followed with informing the designated officer.

If an allegation is received through the police or a health professional, or voluntary sector member or staff or social care, immediately must be informed to the designated officer.

In accordance with Brent LSCB policy ‘’ Managing allegation made against staff and volunteers working with children and young people’’. The voice of the child will be valued at the allegation stage and as part of the investigation process.

Contacting the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

When an Allegation is made against a member of staff (paid/unpaid) the Designated Senior Manager for Allegations (DSM) within your agency should be informed and should immediately consult the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

The LADO will discuss the allegation with the DSM and establish if it is alleged that a volunteer or member of staff has:

behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child; or

possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or

behaved in a way that indicates s/he is unsuitable to work with children

The LADO function is currently undertaken by the Child Protection team and this team should be contacted as the first point of call for any LADO.

Any LADO enquiry’s should be directed to the email address below and will be responded to within one working day

PLEASE NOTE: Confidential information should NOT be sent to this email address

Following a conversation with the LADO regarding the allegation details, you will be asked to complete the form below and send it to the LADO.

Support to families

The setting believes in building trusting and supportive relationships with families, staff and volunteers.

We will ensure that we are able to signpost families to further support by working in partnership with local children centres, schools and other local support groups.

We will work in partnership with families to identify their strengths and areas for further support through the Common Assessment Framework (CAF).

The setting makes clear to parents its role and responsibilities in relation to Child Protection, such as for the reporting of concerns, providing information, monitoring of the child, and liaising at all times with the Brent Family Front Door.

The setting will continue to welcome the child and the family whilst investigations are being made in relation to any alleged abuse.

We follow the Child Protection Plan as set by the social services department in relation to the setting’s designated role and tasks in supporting the child and the family, subsequent to any investigation.

Confidential records kept on a child are shared with the child’s parents or those who have parental responsibility for the child in accordance with the procedure and only if appropriate under the guidance of the Brent Local Safeguarding Children Board.

The use of mobile phones and digital cameras:

Staff and visitors are not allowed to use mobile phones in the nursery

Parents/carers must keep mobile phones in their pockets or hand bag and must only use them outside of the nursery. However, in the event of an emergency they can approach the manager and we would direct them to a private room to make a call.

The setting checks with parents that they consent to the use of cameras for appropriate recording purposes.

Only the setting camera may be used to take pictures of children.

The setting will respond to any suspicions of the inappropriate taking or distribution of photographs.

The British values

The fundamental British values of democracy rule of law individual liberty mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs are already implanted in the 2014 Early years’ foundation stage. Separately the counter terrorism and security Act also places a duty on Early Years Provider to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism (the prevent duty) to help demonstrate what this means in practise

Democracy: making decisions together

As part of the focus on self-confidence and self-awareness as stated in personal, social and emotional Development

Mangers and staff can encourage children to see their role in the bigger picture, encouraging children to know their views count, value each other views and values and talk about their feelings, for example when they do not need help. When appropriate demonstrate democracy in action, for example children sharing views on what the value theme of their role play area could be with a show of hands.

Staff can support the decisions that children make and provide activities that involve taking turns, sharing and collaboration. Children should be given opportunities to develop engaging minds in an atmosphere when questions are valued.

Rule of law: understanding rules matter as stated in Personal Social and Emotional Development

As part of the focus on managing feelings and behaviour

Staff can ensure that children understand their own and others behaviour and its consequences and learn to distinguish right from wrong.

Staff can collaborate with children to create the rules and the codes of behaviour, for example to agree the rules about tidying up and ensure that all children understand rules apply to everyone.

Individual liberty: Freedom for all

As part of the focus on Self-confidence and Self Awareness and people communities in Personal, Social and Emotional development and understanding of the world.

Children should develop a positive sense of themselves. staff can provide activities for children to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and increase their confidence in their own abilities. For example, through allowing children to take risk on an obstacle course, mixing colour and talking about their experiences and learning.

Staff should encourage a range of experiences that allow children to explore language of feelings and responsibility, reflect on their differences and understand we are free to have different opinions for example in a small group discuss what they feel about transferring in Reception class.

Mutual Respect and tolerance: treat others as you want to be treated

Focus on people and communities, managing feelings and behaviour and making relationships as said in PSE and understanding the world

Managers and leaders should create an ethos at inclusivity and tolerance where views, faiths, cultures and races are valued and children are engaged with the wider community.

Children should acquire a tolerance and appreciation of respect for their own and other cultures, knowing about similarities and differences between themselves and others and among families, faith, communities, cultures and traditions and share and discuss practices, celebrations and experiences.

Staff should encourage and explain the importance of tolerant behaviour such as sharing and respecting others opinions.

Staff should promote diverse attitudes and challenges stereotypes, for example sharing stories that reflect and value the diversity of children’s experiences and providing resources and activities that challenge gender, cultural and racial stereotyping.

Failure to challenge behaviour {whether it staff, children or parents that are not in line with fundamental British value of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.